Beginning in 2026, it has been verified that ESPN’s freshly introduced streaming service will broadcast WWE Premium Live Events, previously known as pay-per-views (PPVs). In the year 2014, WWE debuted its own streaming platform, the WWE Network, which offered fans access to PPVs and an extensive library of events and original programming for a nominal fee of $9.99 per month. However, subsequent media agreements led to the phasing out of the WWE Network, with its content being transferred to other platforms.
As a devoted WWE enthusiast, I’ve been enjoying the convenience of watching events on Peacock here in the US, with fellow fans worldwide tuning in via Netflix. However, the affordable entertainment Peacock has offered is set for an overhaul in 2026, as WWE programming shifts to a new streaming platform. Despite some criticisms from fans, Peacock has been a cost-effective choice compared to many other streaming services, but this will no longer be the case with the upcoming move.
WWE PLEs are Leaving Peacock for ESPN
Beginning in 2026, WWE Pay-Per-Views will only be available on ESPN in the United States. However, they will still be accessible on Netflix in other countries. The new ESPN streaming service, set to debut on August 21 and known simply as ESPN, costs $29.99 per month. Instead of paying just $132 annually for Peacock (it’s worth mentioning that an annual subscription is actually cheaper than the monthly rate), fans will have to pay a significant amount of $360 annually to continue watching WWE Pay-Per-Views in 2026, which equates to a difference of $228. To keep up with all WWE programming, viewers will need an ESPN subscription for $30 per month, a Netflix subscription for Raw, access to broadcast TV for NXT on The CW, and a cable subscription for SmackDown on Fridays on the USA Network. It’s becoming increasingly costly to be a dedicated WWE fan.
I’ve been one of those passionate WWE fans who have felt the pinch when ticket prices skyrocketed, making it tough for me and others like me to continue attending the events. The backlash against this practice, coupled with the shift to ESPN, is bound to raise some eyebrows, no doubt. In fact, the drop in TKO’s stock price following the announcement speaks volumes. At the time of writing, it stood at $159.16, a decline from its opening price of $167.38, showing a dip of 2.73%.
The future of the WWE archive available on Peacock hasn’t been explicitly decided. It’s speculated that it might also move to ESPN, but at this point, we can only guess.
A significant number of WWE enthusiasts might express disappointment over this latest turn of events, as it’s reasonable given the current state of WWE pay-per-views (PLEs) being loaded with ads and extra content, a trend unlikely to be reversed with the transition. Subscribing to ESPN remains a cost-effective alternative compared to the traditional pay-per-view model, but the traditional approach offered a more streamlined experience centered around the main product. It will undeniably be intriguing to observe how this shift affects WWE in the long run.
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2025-08-06 19:24